Streaming Devices / Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Google TV Streamer (4K)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Google TV Streamer (4K)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Apple TV with gigabit ethernet and Thread — the best smart-home hub in the category.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) edges ahead by 0.2 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Google TV Streamer (4K) is a defensible pick on its own terms. Ethernet and Thread for $99 — the best-value smart-home streaming hub.
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Google TV Streamer (4K) is $149 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ($99.99 vs $249). On Value, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (8.0 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. On Connectivity, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. Overall, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.1/10 for the Google TV Streamer (4K), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Google TV Streamer (4K) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (2160p) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic, 5-core CPU at 2.9GHz | MediaTek MT8696 — quad-core Cortex-A55 up to 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 4 | 4 |
| Storage (GB) | 128✓ | 32 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (built in) | Gigabit (built in) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Operating System | tvOS 26 | Google TV on Android 14 for TV |
| Remote | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking | Voice remote with Gemini, AAA batteries, customizable shortcut button, Find My Remote chime |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Porcelain, Hazel |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are level here, at 7.5/10 each. voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 4.0 — a 4.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) if…
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • Audio Support matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through).
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Choose the Google TV Streamer (4K) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.0/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $149 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet plus a Thread border router — the most capable smart-home hub here
- +Comfortably the fastest streaming box you can buy
- +tvOS has no ads on the home screen
- +Double the storage of the 64GB model
- +Excellent Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos handling
Cons
- −At $249 it is by far the most expensive device in this category
- −Price rose from $149 to $249 in June 2026, a 67% increase
- −2022 hardware with a successor widely reported as imminent
- −Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, both behind newer rivals
- −No USB-C cable included in the box
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet and Thread border router built in, at a quarter of the price Apple charges for the same
- +4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is generous at this price
- +Google Home panel makes it a genuine smart-home hub, not just a streamer
- +Find My Remote solves a problem every other remote here ignores
- +Full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 5 only — no Wi-Fi 6, which is hard to defend on a device launched in 2024
- −The Cortex-A55 chip is modest next to Apple's A15
- −Remote takes disposable AAA batteries rather than charging over USB-C
- −Google TV's home screen is advertising-led, like Fire TV's
- −Capped at 4K60
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or Google TV Streamer (4K) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Value, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Video Quality, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Video Quality (9.0/10 vs 8.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported.
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) worth the price difference over the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better fit for smart-home or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Google TV Streamer (4K) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) — $59.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.